Have you ever considered becoming a Heritage Foundation Board Member? Now is your chance. If you have an interest and are willing to dedicate and donate your time please send an email expressing your interest! Send your contact information and the reason why you’d be a great addition to the Heritage Foundation no later than April 25, 2012 to sccfhf@hotmail.com

Join us at the Fair, September 11-16, 2012!  Watch this page for updates…

Look for our 2012 Heritage Hog!

Watch for updated information!

Thank you for once again making the crab feed a huge success!

We Are Sold Out! Thanks for your support.

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Holiday Craft and Gift Fairholidayfair@sccfheritage.org
Download Vendor Application

WHO: The SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIR HERITAGE FOUNDATION, a 501.(c)3 Non Profit Organization

WHAT: Continuing the Tradition of a GREAT HOLIDAY EVENT Started over thirty years ago….

WHEN: Friday December 2^nd 10am – 8pm, Saturday December 3^rd 10am – 4pm.

WHERE: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville

WHY: Our Foundation is a non-profit corporation raising money for improvements to our Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.  The Foundation bought the rights to this 27 year old Craft Fair six years ago and brought it back to life, adding decorations, great atmosphere, more advertising, and all around fun for not only our exhibitors/crafters but also for those attending.  It has been called “The traditional start of the Holiday Season in the Pajaro Valley”, and we continue to grow the event adding new exhibitors and crafters and special events each year.

This festive event full of holiday cheer includes crafts, folk art, antiques, collectibles, gift foods, delicious refreshments at the food court, and free parking. The 25 foot high, Christmas tree will light up your child’s eyes! The Agricultural History Project will host a County Christmas. You can also tour the Rodgers House, and see model trains at the Santa Cruz County Railroad Historical Society. Santa will make a special appearance on Saturday. Children are invited to sit with Santa to share their Christmas wishes and have their photo taken. General admission is $3.00, children under 5 are free.

This is a juried show. A juried show is one where a committee reviews each of the vendors –exhibitors who apply to be a part of the show.  After study of your application, pictures of your items, and pictures of how your booth is set up in a sales situation, we will notify you of your acceptance.  If you are not accepted, your application fee will and pictures will be returned.

We occupy all three buildings at the fairgrounds, the Harvest Building , the Art Building, and the Crosetti Hall.  We have two Food Courts serving great home cooked foods, one in the Harvest Building and the other in Crosetti Hall.  With several different crafter/exhibitors in attendance, it’s the perfect place for families to start their Holiday Shopping.  We also have a huge display of Holiday Poinsettias which welcomes you into the Harvest Building, a 25’ Christmas Tree and a 15’ Christmas Tree all decorated for everyone’s enjoyment.  With holiday music playing throughout the grounds.  We also have  free hay wagon rides to the Agricultural History Project Museum and Gift Shop (all decorated for the season), and Free Tours of the HISTORIC RODGERS HOUSE decorated for the Holidays in traditional style.  Back this year will be FREE tours of the Model Railroad Club’s Train Building!  It’s a perfect place for families to have a great outing and get their shopping done at the same time.

Food is also something special at this event.  In years past, the Foundation Elves have handled the cooking duties.  With additional non-profit groups added to the mix, the food is a destination all it’s own.  The groups will be cooking up their specialties all of which will be available to enjoy at the fair, and take home for dinner after a long day of shopping.   Enchiladas, Soups, Fresh Baked Goodies, Salads, and more, it’s all there to enjoy!

Booth’s are divided into 10X10 spaces. No pipe and drape are provided.  Exhibitors/Crafters may use their own tables and displays to create their area within the spaces marked.  We provide two exhibitor/crafter passes per 10X10 for your use.    Canopy’s are only allowed in certain areas and must be approved by Holiday Fair Management prior to use. 8’ tables are available from the Foundation at $5.00 per table per day.

Any vendor that has food items in their booth (whether pre-packaged or homemade items) must contact the Santa Cruz County Health Department for a Health Permit. It is the responsibility of the VENDOR to make this contact.  Health Department officials will be on site to inspect any booth with food items and must comply to their rules.  The Heritage Foundation has no control over this rule by the County of Santa Cruz.  If you have a yearly permit, you must report that to the County Health Department.

Last year over 3000 paid admissions and another 400 volunteers and staff attended.  Admission is $3.00 per person attending and parking is always FREE.

We place over $9,000 in advertising in various publications, newspapers, radio, television, and poster/handouts each year for this event. We also post 4X8 foot colorful signs on high traffic corners, highways, and other areas throughout our area.  We also do an email flights to over 20,000.  Wealsoo make available show art (posters and post cards) which you can hand out at other shows you attend. This year we will be having several promotions for savings on tickets   Vendors will be kept aware of these promotions and asked to join in on some of them.

Set up is on Thursday from 9am until 6pm. We provide uniformed security Thursday and Friday nights from the time we close the buildings until we return the next morning.

Tear-down is Saturday beginning at 4:00pm (NOT ANY EARLIER), and all items must be removed from the building no later than 7:00pm that evening.

For additional information, you can send an email to holidayfair@sccfheritage.org, or call and leave a message at (831) 612-9118.  A member of the Holiday Fair Committee will return your call or email.

Download this Application, print it out and fill in your information to become an exhibitor/crafter vendor at this year’s event.  Then put together some pictures of your products, your booth set up at an event (if available) and send it with your deposit check to the Heritage Foundation Heritage Holiday Fair address on the application.  It’s simple, just  follow the instructions on the application page.

Santa Cruz County Fair: September 13-18, 2011  A GREAT SUCCESS! Watsonville, CA – This year’s Santa Cruz County Fair was a total success.  Setting attendance records 2% above last year, and 15% above the 2009 event, it showcases the support for our County Fair in the our community.  Thanks to all who volunteered with the Foundation’s Beer, Wine and Margarita Booths.  With your help we raised $25,930.00 for the Foundation which will help support our fairgrounds projects in the coming year.

GOING BACK IN HISTORY…  It was May of 1941 when 105 acres of rolling pasture along Hecker Pass Road became the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.  Yes, the Fairgrounds has been making much joy and a little noise for 70 years.  When that first Fair opened in October of 1941 there were few immediate neighbors.  But people came, perhaps drawn by the beautiful setting, and with them came the problem of living next to a Fairgrounds.

With respect to being a good neighbor, the history of this almost priceless community asset is one of a growing awareness and responsiveness, and ultimately, self-limitation.  When amplified music pushed itself over the neighborhood out came decibel meters to limit the intrusion.  A few equestrian events started running well past midnight so language was added to agreements to ensure they ended at a reasonable hour.  If a promoter could not abide by restrictions designed to keep their parties from spilling out and disrupting the surrounding area they were asked not to return

Have there been times when an event at the Fairgrounds intruded into the neighborhood?  Of course, it is impossible to be a public facility open to all and not have an occasional violation of policy.  It is the way the Fairgrounds responds with solutions when these violations are identified that insures it remains a very good neighbor.

The Fairgrounds is currently facing a lawsuit brought by a group of neighbors known as CAFA.  (Community Alliance for Fairgrounds Accountability)  The promised expensive legal action could ultimately deliver to the group a neighboring 105 acres containing empty decaying buildings and only echoes of the joy once created there.

For now the Santa Cruz County Fair is able to celebrate the rich agricultural history of our community and people, and invest heavily in bringing this heritage to our youth.  The  Fair is  located on Highway 152 just east of Watsonville.   To see pictures and videos of this years fair, go to www.santacruzcountyfair.org

Plans are well under way for the Ag History Project and SCCF Heritage Foundation’s ninth “Day on the Farm,” Saturday May 21st from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Again we will be showcasing some of the antique equipment in the hay field and many old craft demonstrations will be held on the site of AHP.

There will be a variety of animals to see and some to pet. New events planned for this year are a Tractor Rodeo using AHP’s antique tractors or a contestant may bring his or her own tractor. A tractor rodeo is not like a livestock rodeo, it is a game of skill, such as backing a four wheel wagon in a straight line, carrying a glass of water over a designated course, participating in a slow race, dragging a log through obstacles and other such events. A toy tractor pull is being planned using an AHP toy tractor with sled for weight. This event is for children under 10.

There will be separate classes based on age. For the first time we will give spectators a chance to line drive a single or team of Clydesdale horses in the hay field. An experienced teamster will be with the driver at all times. Food will provided by the Santa Cruz County Fair Heritage Foundation and will include a eat-in or takeout St. Louis style pork rib  dinner from 11 AM to 5 PM for $12. To reserve a dinner call 831-612-9118. If any one would be like to enter any of these events, please call the AHP office (831) 724-5898.

Tickets for the Country Style BBQ are $12

Download Day on the Farm Poster

This year’s dinner will take place October 15, 2011.  Below is a link to photos from last year’s event where we honored and thanked our wonderful volunteers each year with a dinner. It’s a fun evening where volunteers get to know each other and Heritage Foundation members better, and make new friends. Volunteer for this event.

The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds is one of the treasures of the Central Coast—providing a unique venue for recreation, education, science, sports, and charitable activities that enrich our community. It is utilized by companies, schools and community groups year-round. The Fairgrounds also plays an important role as an evacuation center for people and animals in the tri-County area in the event of a fire or other natural disaster. The subsidies from California horse racing which supported the Fairgrounds in the past have dwindled, resulting in the need for annual fundraising. To help the Fairgrounds maintain a high level of excellence in its facilities, the Santa Cruz County Fair Heritage Foundation raises funds with the help of volunteers and implements capital improvement projects on the grounds. Become a member today, and together we can ensure the continued vitality of this important community resource.